President Remarks
Aviation Boatswain's Mate Association President. | by Tony Hernandez
Posted 18 Sep 2007
Flight deck personnel stow the aircraft barricade after flight deck drills on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Hyde (RELEASED)
From The President
ABMA President, CDR. Tony Hernandez
My fellow AB’s past and present! It is truly an honor to represent
such a fine organization as your President! As you all know the
symposium in Silverdale, WA was a tremendous success. Commands were
represented from far reaching locations like Italy, Japan and
Greece. Almost every ship where AB’s conduct business was
represented and as usual, our cadre of retirees were present in
force...they endow our organization with the unique sense of history
and continuity that has made the ABMA such a huge success.
Congratulations to the new Commanding Officer for CNATTU Oceana, CDR
Mike Singleton. I’d like to extend a “Well Done” to CDR Don Griffin
on his successful completion of command at CNATTU Lemoore and
welcome him to NAVAIR PMA-251. Also to CDR Al Almeida, who left the
AIRLANT Handling Team and reported to USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) as
the Gun Boss. Further, I’d like to take this opportunity to
congratulate our most recent advancements; CDR: Shawn Whalen; LCDR’s;
James Winfrey, Kimball Terres, Alec Villegas and Ed Jaso; CWO5’s:
Tim Smith and Wash Carthon; CWO4’s: Cliff Evans, Claude Foreman,
Paul Hicks, Art Melendez, Michael Evans and permanent CWO, LT Tom
Hoctor; CWO3’s: Refugio Garcia, John Federico Alonza Wells and Sam
Gyasi and last but certainly not least I’d like to congratulate all
our new CPO’s. Take charge and continue to build in the tradition of
those who wore the anchors before you.
These are new and exciting times! New systems are on the horizon and
this time in history affords us a distinct opportunity to partake in
the development of 21st century aviation. Systems like EMALS,
Auto-Grape and spray-on non-skid are but a few of the initiatives
that will reach maturity when our most junior AB’s of today have
taken over as the LDO’s, Warrants and CPO’s of tomorrow! Your ideas
and fleet submissions coupled with our collective participation and
support will secure the future of our organization.
Our next symposium will be held in Norfolk, VA. The Tidewater
Chapter is working diligently to put on a memorable and productive
gathering. Please make your reservations well in advance and join us
next year as we continue to foster the strength in unity that has
made us the “elite of the fleet”. The dates for the symposium are 03
to 10 August 2008, and changes in program and times are likely to
occur and will be made public via the ABMA web page. Stay in touch
and see you there!
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